Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2016 i Horse & Rider

Q My 18-year-old gelding was only recently castrated, and when I got him he had an ugly, chafed, bleeding penis. It’s goopy and “sheds” a lot, and it smells bad, too. He doesn’t act as if it hurts. Why does this happen and what can I do for him? DAYNA GILLHAM, Illinois A First, some basics. Smegma is the thick, oily secretion that covers the penis and interior of the sheath in stallions and geldings. It’s produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin of the sheath, and some horses make more of it than others. The “bean” that can form in the urethra at the tip of the penis is made of smegma. (Though beans can become quite large, they typically don’t prevent the horse from urinating properly.) Smegma…

Uveitis is a painful inflammation of the eye with potentially careeror even life-ending complications. We asked Dr. Jacquelin Boggs, senior veterinarian with Zoetis Equine Technical Services, to explain what you need to know now about this disease. What causes uveitis? In horses, uveitis can be caused by trauma to the eye, corneal disease (such as ulcers), and bacterial or fungal infections of which leptospirosis is the most common cause. Uveitis can affect one or both eyes. You may notice an affected eye appearing cloudy or discolored. Your horse may squint or tear excessively, and the pupil may be constricted. These are frequently the first signs, with more severe changes to the eye developing with subsequent flare-ups. Even with the best treatment, most horses that develop recurrent uveitis won’t return to…

IN THE LATE 1980s, A MYSTERIOUS DISEASE ROCKED the Quarter Horse world, as well as breeds crossed with Quarter Horses. Horses suffering muscle tremors, weakness, collapse, and even death made headlines when the cause was traced to a genetic disease attributed to a prominent Quarter Horse bloodline. When researchers announced that HYPP (hyperkalemic periodic paralysis) linked to one very famous stallion named Impressive, there was an uproar in breeding barns across the country. A decade later breeders began to accept the importance of reducing the spread of this deadly disease. In 1998, the American Quarter Horse Association adopted a rule requiring all foals descending from Impressive to be tested for HYPP, with results listed on their registration papers. In 2007, horses carrying two genes for this disease were no longer…

Grooming guidelines for ranch riding differ from regular show classes. Keep these in mind when preparing to show. • Absolutely no hoof black. If you’ve applied hoof polish for other classes you’ve competed in that day, it must all be removed before you show in ranch riding. • Skip the mane bands. Most ranch riding horses have longer manes, so they don’t require bands to make their manes lie down. If your horse’s mane is short, just let it be; don’t worry about it. • Keep clipping to a minimum. You won’t be penalized for a closely clipped muzzle, but it’s not necessary for ranch riding. Clean up your horse’s bridle path, trim long fetlocks, but don’t worry about getting a showmanship-ready clip. Most judges are so busy judging the…

A TYPICAL PLAYDATE EXCHANGE WITH SCHOOL moms goes something like this. Me: I’ll pick up Leo at 4 sharp. He needs to go ride his horse this afternoon. Other Mom: Um, what? Wait. He has a horse? I’ve become accustomed to their befuddlement, so it no longer catches me off guard. But it does give me pause that a child having a horse—or learning to ride on a lesson mount—is so foreign to my suburbia neighbor moms. Living in Colorado, high-dollar ski passes and equipment goes without a second thought. But a horse? It’s as if we have a pet hippo! ‘I Rode as a Kid’ The second, less common, response from Other Mom is, “Oh, how cool. I rode as a kid. But then…” Her answer generally ends with…

Transitional Colors & Style Wrap up your summer show season in style and comfort with the new princess-cut Dri-Fit Show Tunic (#53284) from Cowboy Couture ($159; www.cowboycoutureinc.com). One of our favorite features is the front zipper, making it a great alternative to the classic button-down shirt. Its moisture-wicking fabric is perfect for hot days, keeping you cool and dry while you enjoy showing your horse. To keep the focus on color, we paired the black Dri-Fit Tunic with the deep, rich teal Petrol hat by Greeley Hat Works (Competitor hat, $450 stock; $525 custom; greeleyhatworks.com). This color pairing will take you right into fall. All-Around Footwear Dress it up, or dress it down, this new women’s All-Around Boot by Noble Outfitters offers a stylish solution for an everyday boot. Wear…

Clay Cavinder Cavinder is a carded judge with the Paint, Quarter Horse, Palomino, and Appaloosa breed/color associations, as well as the NRHA and NSBA. During his 15-year judging career, he’s officiated shows across the U.S. and in Canada, Europe, and Australia. He’s an associate professor in animal and dairy science at Mississippi State University. As the MSU state horse extension specialist, he teaches and conducts research in equine physiology. He’s also the coach of the horse-judging team, and has coached former teams to championships and reserve titles at major events. When judging conformation, I first look for a horse’s overall appeal. I must be attracted to a horse’s profile first, then I ask myself why I’m drawn to that horse. That’s when I examine the components of balance, structure, quality,…

JERGENS LOTION. My beautiful Quarter Horse/Paint Jackie had white gunk in his ears. Our vet said his ears looked dry—and the Jergens took care of it! Nancy Evangelista, Florida GOOD OLD VINEGAR. It cuts right through soap, so makes a great final rinse after bathing. My Morgan mare’s dark-bay coat shines like anything. Laurie Fallon, Texas AVON SKIN SO SOFT BUG GUARD PLUS PICARIDIN TOWELETTES. Frosty, my fleabitten gray Quarter Horse gelding, has sensitive skin and an allergy to bug bites. I use regular equine spray on his body, but he loves the cool, gentle towelettes inside his ears and on his pink nose. Linda Grunberg, Nebraska INFUSIUM 23 LEAVE-IN TREATMENT. I put it in a spray bottle and use it each time I groom. It allows my horse’s thin,…

LETTER OF THE MONTH Thanks for the Clinic I wanted to thank Weaver Leather and Horse&Rider for the amazing clinic I won through the Win-a-Day contest. My friends who also participated keep telling me how much they enjoyed it. We all learned a lot! Clinician Brad Barkemeyer inspired all of us to be better horsemen, and we all saw great improvements in each other. It made me want to move to Arizona (where Brad trains horses) and join the cow horse industry! The clinic was fantastic. It was everything I’d hoped for and more. STACI HUFFMAN, Idaho Editor’s Note: Get a glimpse into Staci’s special day in the feature beginning on page 60. E-mail your letters to HorseandRider@aimmedia.com. Or, send them to Horse&Rider, 5720 Flatiron Pkwy., Boulder, CO 80301. To…

Details: 2007 Half-Arabian gelding by Custom Chrome and out of SA Phantom Gale, by Amphantom Galleon. Barn name: Custom. Owned and shown by: Joe Betten of Grand Haven, Michigan. Trained and shown by: Crystal McNutt of Scottsdale, Arizona. Hey, good lookin’: “He’s really pretty,” says McNutt. Betten concurs, “Quarter Horse trainers kept approaching us at the NRHA Derby, asking if we’d sell him. Crystal responded, ‘I didn’t know you were in the market for a Half-Arab,’” he says with a laugh. Fancy ride: “He’s the smoothest horse I’ve ever ridden,” McNutt says. “You could wear an all-fringe outfit and it wouldn’t move.” Loping isn’t his only smooth feature, either. “He turns so well I have to look down to see if his feet are actually moving,” Betten adds. Three for…

Help yourself stay relaxed and balanced over the center of your horse by using your rein hand as a balancing “sight guide.” Hold your reins just above the center of the mane line, and point your thumb toward the space between your horse’s ears. This aligns your body with your horse’s body for good balance. Rock and Ride The problem: Constantly having to pull your phone out of your pocket to text, call, or listen to music while riding. The solution: Use the i Rock N Ride rechargeable wireless speaker to stay hands-free. Designed for equestrians, this integrated Bluetooth speaker will resist dust and moisture, and it attaches to the pommel of your Western saddle. This allows you to make phone calls or listen to music without fumbling for your…

It might look like a simple drill—riding a square around four cones. But you’d be surprised how hard it is to maintain a consistent distance from each cone, make a square or rounded corner, and travel a straight line to the next marker. This drill is a fundamental part of our program because it allows us to evaluate a rider’s skill and attention to detail. It also teaches the rider about pattern placement and planning for each step of a pattern. Not so simple after all! Here, we’ll discuss how we use this square, which consists of four cones set in a square 15 to 30 paces apart, depending on the size of the arena. Our rider will work the square to the right; reverse all cues to ride the…

When your horse listens and responds promptly to your cues, it boosts your confidence as a rider. This kind of responsiveness must be cultivated, however, and you do that by knowing when and how to reinforce a cue. I’m going to explain this concept, using a request for a back-up as an example. Why you need this. As a trainer I’ve noticed many riders don’t realize they should be reinforcing their cues as necessary. When their horse doesn’t respond as he should, they overlook it, thinking, “He’ll do better next time.” But whenever you’re working with your horse, you’re training him, whether you realize it or not. You’re either teaching him that a lackluster response is OK (by letting him get away with it), or teaching him that a crisp,…

Rich, black leg markings accentuate an alreadypolished turnout. As an AQHA, APHA, NSBA, and NRHA judge, I can say that touchingup your horse’s black stockings doesn’t necessarily earn extra points on my score card, but it demonstrates that you’ve made extra effort to give the best presentation possible. The enviable, ebony look isn’t solely achieved through good grooming and bathing. When used correctly, colorenhancing sprays can sharpen your horse’s appearance, as well as conceal stains, scars, and blemishes that take away from the pretty picture. Enhancing a horse’s black points is permissible at AQHA- and APHA-sanctioned events; however, it’s illegal to alter a horse’s color by covering up a coronet band or white sock or stocking. Turn the page to learn the four easy steps to getting sharp-looking legs for…